Method and device for refueling a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

In a method for the refueling of motor vehicles information, a device for data transmission transmits information between an interface in the vehicle and an interface in the gas pump having a fuel delivery hose and a pistol-grip nozzle, wherein, prior to the start of refueling, the vehicle transmits in at least one item of information about the type or the parameters of the fuels allowed for the optimal operation of the vehicle a wireless manner, which is received at the gas pump and evaluated with respect to the parameters of the current fuel at the gas pump and converted into execution signals for the control of the refueling operation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for the refueling of motorvehicles according to which information is transmitted between aninterface in the vehicle and an interface in the gas pump having afuel-delivery hose and a pistol-grip nozzle, such a transmission beingcarried out with the aid of a data-transmission device. Furthermore, thepresent invention relates to a device for implementing this method.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Motor vehicles are equipped with engines for different types of fuels,i.e., different types of gasoline and diesel fuel. In the future afurther increase in the types of fuel must be expected, in particularsynthetic fuels having special properties. A fuel mix-up duringrefueling may lead to serious damage to the engine during operation.

A mix-up during refueling may easily occur as a result of an error sincegas stations have several pistol-grip nozzles situated in closeproximity to one another, the visual identification appearing only onthe displays of the gasoline pump. The likelihood of a mix-up is greaterwith inexperienced drivers and with drivers who have a new vehicle or areplacement vehicle or who often change the vehicle.

Heavy traffic at service stations where several vehicles often pull upat the same time also increases the risk of a mix-up. Pulling up to thegas station and selecting the gasoline pump is an action that requiresconcentration from the driver and attention to a multitude of factors,i.e., choosing an unoccupied gasoline pump in accordance with theparticular location of the fuel tank opening on the left or right side,the type of fuel, and basing such choice on the pumping readiness of agasoline pump.

Communication systems are utilized for a variety of purposes in thecontext of vehicle operation, these systems communicating wirelesslyacross short distances and transmitting information about the technicalparameters and the state of the vehicle and its assemblies. Thetransmitted data are then used for preventive purposes, in particular,and for accelerating service actions. To transmit data about thevehicle, its state and the technical parameters, the time intervalduring which the vehicle is located at the gas station and beingrefueled is preferably utilized.

Known from the German Published Patent Application No. 198 52 814 is amethod for transmitting and exchanging data between the motor vehicleand the gas station while fuel is being pumped into the tank of thevehicle. The data transmission is realized in both directions and islimited to the time interval during which the gas pump nozzle of thevehicle is connected to the gas pump with the aid of the pistol-gripnozzle and the fuel-delivery hose. The communication between theelectronic systems of the vehicle and the external control devices takesplace simultaneously with the pumping of fuel. While the fuel is pumpedvia the gas pump, the motor vehicle may be connected to the servicestation or the manufacturer's facility with the aid of an onlineconnection. A technical diagnosis of the drive motor, the electricalsystem, the vehicle regulation systems and the chassis, as well as ananalysis of the brake system and the degree of wear of the brake liningsmay during refueling,, as well as information transmitted regarding theair pressure in the tires and the oil level. While pumping fuel,information pertaining to the type and quality of the fuel currentlybeing pumped may be transmitted in order to adjust suitable enginecontrol parameters. The data exchange between the vehicle and the gasstation takes place only when fuel is being pumped into the vehicletank, allowing no provisions to be made for the choice of theappropriate fuel for the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to remove the shortcomings ofthe current related art and to provide a method for the refueling ofmotor vehicles which protects the motor vehicle against pumping a typeof fuel other than the fuel intended for the motor vehicle, allowsbetter orientation when the driver pulls up to the gas pump; simplifiesthe refueling process and facilitates the automation and acceleration ofthe delivery of fuels.

The object of the present invention is achieved by a method for therefueling of motor vehicles according to which a data transmissiondevice is utilized to transmit the information between the interface inthe vehicle and the interface in the gas pump provided with a fueldelivery hose and a pistol-grip nozzle. According to the presentinvention, prior to the start of fuel pumping, the vehicle transmits atleast one item of information regarding the type or the parameters ofthe fuels allowed for the optimal operation of the vehicle in a wirelessmanner, such information being received at the gas pump and evaluated atthe gas pump with respect to the parameters of the currently availablefuels at the gas pump and converted into execution signals for thecontrol of the refueling operation.

A signal for blocking or enabling the nozzle and/or a signal for anoptical or acoustic indication and/or for an item of wireless controlinformation for the vehicle are/is advantageously sent as executionsignal for the control of the refueling operation. The refuelingoperation includes at least the blocking or enabling of the entry offuel into the fuel delivery hose. It may also include the selection of afuel pump of the gas station suitable for the allowed fuel, and also theoutput of an optical or acoustic sign for the vehicle or, finally, thewireless output of such an item of information to the vehicle.

The pumping of fuel from the gas pump may be enabled permanently, and inthe event that the fuel allowed for the vehicle is not available, thegas pump may release a signal to block the entry of fuel into the hoseafter receiving and analyzing the item of information. It may alsorelease a signal to display an item of information to the refuelingparty on the display situated on the fuel pump of the gas station. Sucha routine for the refueling of motor vehicles is suitable for theduration of a transition phase until the refueling method according tothe present invention is widely adopted. Once it has been widelyadopted, the method according to the present invention may be used insuch a way that the pumping of fuel will be blocked permanently and,following receipt and evaluation of the information, the gas stationoutputs a signal to enable the delivery of gas into the hose, providedthe fuel allowed for the vehicle is available there.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the gas station wirelesslytransmits an activation signal, and the vehicle transmits identifyinginformation, the vehicle transmitting the identifying information andthe information about the type or parameters of the allowed fuels onlyafter receipt of the activation signal. Having received the identifyinginformation of the vehicle, the electronic system of the gas station istherefore able to record the specific vehicle's requirements withrespect to the type or parameters of the fuel and to monitor compliancewith this requirement, possibly emitting advance execution signals forpreparing for such compliance, such as a signal for a luminous signal tothe vehicle and a signal to enable or block the pistol-grip nozzle, orto transmit an item of execution information to the vehicle. The gaspump shortens the wireless transmission routine to an effective durationby transmission of the activation signal. A random number, generated bya random number generator, may advantageously be used as identifyinginformation.

In an advantageous manner, the vehicle is able to transmit additionalinformation in conjunction with the information about the type or theparameters of the fuels allowed for an optimal operation, suchinformation pertaining to the quantity of the required fuel or todiagnostic data of the vehicle. This information may be processed in theelectronic system of the gas station prior to the start of refueling,and execution signals may be sent to the gas station on this basis orinformation be imaged for the vehicle, or control information suppliedto the vehicle.

For each item of identifying information, the insertion of thepistol-grip nozzle into the fuel intake of the vehicle mayadvantageously be checked prior to refueling, such check beingimplemented with the aid of a wireless communication between theelectronic elements affixed in the fuel intake of the vehicle and in thepistol-grip nozzle of the gas station, or with the aid of an electricconnection between the fuel intake of the vehicle and the pistol-gripnozzle. The standardized interfaces (frequency, modulation type, dataprotocol) of the RFID technology may be utilized, so that the technicalintroduction of the wireless communication is therefore relativelysimple and inexpensive.

Moreover, the object of the present invention is achieved by a devicefor implementing the method for the refueling of motor vehicles with theaid of a data transmission device between the interface of the vehicleand the interface of the gas pump having a fuel delivery hose and apistol-grip nozzle. According to the present invention, on the one hand,the device has a wireless transmitter, which is situated in the vehicleand connected to a data-transmission device, which transmits informationabout the type or the parameters of the fuels allowed for the optimaloperation of the motor vehicle. On the other hand, the device includes afirst unit, situated at the gas pump, for receiving the informationabout the type or the parameters of the allowed fuel; a second unit foranalyzing the information about the type or the parameters of theallowed fuels with regard to the parameters of the available fuel at thegas station; and a third unit for converting the outputs of the secondunit into execution signals for the control of the refueling operation.The gas station may advantageously be provided with a device foroutputting optical or acoustic signs.

The gas station may advantageously be provided with a receiver ofactivation signals and a wireless transmitter of activation signals forthe vehicles, and the vehicles may be equipped with wirelesstransmitters for the transmission of the identifying information of thevehicle in conjunction with the information about the type or theparameters of the allowed fuel.

Random number generators may advantageously be connected upstream fromthe wireless transmitters of identification signals. The use of randomnumbers as identification signals limits the identification of thevehicle only to the given purpose. In this way, the identifyinginformation becomes independent of the owner or the driver of thevehicle itself.

In an advantageous manner, the vehicle and the gas station may haveradio-frequency identification devices (RFID), the former in the fuelintake and the latter on the pistol-grip nozzle, for instance similar tothe transponders used in ignition keys for the communication of theelectronic immobilizer. Depending on their configuration,radio-frequency identification devices are effective across shortdistances between the fuel intake of the vehicle and the pistol-gripnozzle of the gas station. They verify that a connection has beenestablished between the vehicle and the gas pump having the allowed fuelavailable, and that the pumping of the correct fuel may be started.

The method for the refueling of motor vehicles and the device for itsimplementation according to the present invention protect the motorvehicle against pumping a type of fuel other than the fuel intended forthe motor vehicle; it makes it easier for the driver to present thevehicle at the gas station, accelerates the pumping of fuels, and inthis manner simplifies the entire refueling process. It also allows theoutput of fuel to be automated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the exchange of information and signalsbetween the vehicle and the gas pump in a simple system.

FIG. 2 shows the block diagram of the exchange of information andsignals between the vehicle and the gas pump in variants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to FIG. 1, device 1 for the data transmission, includingwireless transmitter 11 for transmitting information about the type orthe parameters of the fuels allowed for the optimal operation of thevehicle are situated in the vehicle. Situated at the gas station, indevice 2 for the data transmission, is first unit 21 for receiving theinformation about the type or the parameters of the allowed fuels;second unit 22 for analyzing the information about the type or theparameters of the allowed fuels; and third unit 23 for converting theoutputs of the second unit into execution signals for pistol-grip nozzle25 of the fuel delivery hose (not shown) of the fuel pump. Connected tosecond unit 22 is the output of the line for the information fromelectronic unit 31 about the type or the parameters of the fuels thatare allowed and provided at the gas station. According to FIG. 1,wireless transmitter 11 transmits the information about the type or theparameters of the allowed fuels, which is received by first unit 21.First unit 21 is a receiver of wave signals and transmits thisinformation to second electronic unit 22, which analyzes the informationfrom first unit 21 with the information of electronic unit 31 regardingthe type or the parameters of the fuels. The information about the fueloffered at the gas station also may be stored in unit 21. The electronicunit analyzes whether the information from first unit 21 falls under theinformation quantity from unit 31 or under the stored information andsends an execution signal to, for instance, pistol-grip nozzle 25, whichenables the through-flow of the fuel, so that the fuel flows into intake15 of the vehicle's fuel tank (not shown). According to FIG. 1, units21, 22 and 23 are situated in data transmission device 2, but they maybe situated directly in pistol-grip nozzle 25; it is also possible thatunits 21 and 22 are disposed separately from unit 23, which may beinstalled inside pistol-grip nozzle 25 in an advantageous manner.

In FIG. 2, the scheme according to FIG. 1 has been supplemented. Device2 for data transmission, located at the gas pump, is supplemented by awireless transmitter 24, which transmits activation signals that arereceived by receiver 12. The output of receiver 12 is connected totransmitter 11 for the information about the type or parameters of theallowed fuels. In response to the receipt of the activation signal andits transmission to transmitter 11, the dispatch of the informationregarding the allowed fuel and the transmission of the identifyinginformation by transmitter 11 is activated. The identifying informationis advantageously generated in random number generator 13. Unit 21receives the identifying information and forwards it to unit 22 foranalysis. After making a vehicle available at the gas pump, thecommunication of the provided vehicle between the electronic elements inpistol-grip nozzle 25 of the gas station and in fuel intake 15 of thevehicle tank takes place. The electronic element in pistol-grip nozzle25 transmits the received identifying information of the vehicle toevaluation unit 22 where the identifying information of the vehicle iscompared with the identifying information received from transmitter 11.Depending on the agreement of, or the difference in, this identifyinginformation, the flow of the fuel through pistol-grip nozzle 25 isenabled or blocked. In an advantageous manner, unit 23 may also transmitefficient signals to device 26 for the output of optical or acousticsignals for the driver of the vehicle.

The wireless communication across short distances may be realized bygenerally known means such the RFID system (radio frequencyidentification), which is used in an analogous manner in ignition keysfor the communication of the electronic immobilizer, in keyless entrysystems or for price tags on merchandize. It is possible to usestandardized interfaces, i.e., a frequency, modulation or data protocol,whose introduction is relatively simple and inexpensive.

1. A method for a refueling of a motor vehicle, comprising: transmittingby a data-transmission device information between an interface in thevehicle and an interface in a gas pump that includes a fuel deliveryhose and a pistol-grip nozzle; prior to a start of the refueling,transmitting in a wireless manner by the vehicle at least one item ofinformation about one of a type of and a parameter relating to fuelsallowed for an optimal operation of the vehicle; receiving the at leastone item of information at the gas pump; evaluating the at least oneitem of information with respect to a parameter of a current fuel at thegas pump; and converting the at least one item of information into anexecution signal for a control of the refueling.
 2. The method for therefueling of the motor vehicle as recited in claim 1, wirelesslytransmitting by the gas station an activation signal; and transmittingby the vehicle an item of identifying information, the vehicletransmitting the identifying information and the at least one item ofinformation after receipt of the activation signal.
 3. The method forthe refueling of the motor vehicle as recited in claim 2, furthercomprising: for each item of identifying information and prior to atriggering of the refueling, checking an insertion of the pistol-gripnozzle in a fuel intake of the vehicle one of: by a wirelesscommunication between an electronic element situated in the fuel intakeof the vehicle and an electronic element situated in the pistol-gripnozzle of the gas pump, and by an electric connection between the fuelintake of the vehicle and the pistol-grip nozzle.
 4. The method for therefueling of the motor vehicle as recited in claim 2, furthercomprising: generating a random number by a random number generator; andtransmitting the random number as identifying information.
 5. The methodfor the refueling of the motor vehicle as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising: sending as the execution signal at least one of: a signalfor one of a termination and an enabling of a pumping of an allowedfuel, a signal for one of an optical report and an acoustic report, anda signal for a wireless item of control information for the vehicle. 6.The method for the refueling of the motor vehicle as recited in claim 1,further comprising: while the vehicle is coupled to the at least oneitem of information, transmitting by the vehicle additional informationabout at least one of: a quantity of a required fuel, and diagnosticdata of the vehicle.
 7. A device for a refueling of a motor vehicle,comprising: a data-transmission device for a data transmission betweenan interface of the vehicle and an interface of a gasoline pump having afuel delivery hose and a pistol-grip nozzle; a wireless transmittersituated in the vehicle and connected to the data-transmission device,the wireless transmitter transmitting information about one of a typeand a parameter of fuels allowed for an optimal operation of the motorvehicle; a first unit, situated at the fuel pump, for receiving theinformation about the one of the type and the parameter of the allowedfuels; a second unit for analyzing the information about the at leastone of the type and the parameter of the allowed fuels with respect to aparameter of a current fuel at the gas pump; and a third unit forconverting an output of the second unit into an execution signal for acontrol of the refueling.
 8. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein:the gas pump includes a wireless transmitter relating to an activationsignal for the vehicle, the vehicle includes a receiver for receivingthe activation signal, and the wireless transmitter in the vehicletransmits identifying information of the vehicle and the at least oneitem of information to a receiver in the first unit of the gas pump. 9.The device as recited in claim 8, further comprising: a random numbergenerator connected upstream from the wireless transmitter of thevehicle.
 10. The device as recited in claim 8, further comprising: afirst component relating to a wireless communication and situated in afuel intake of the vehicle; and a second component relating to thewireless communication and situated on a pistol-grip nozzle of the gaspump.
 11. The device as recited in claim 8, further comprising: a deviceequipped on the gas pump and for outputting one of an optical report andan acoustic report.